COMMUNITY leaders have questioned how a man was able to smash many Wrexham town centre shop windows before he was stopped.

The incident happened at 6am on St David’s Day and town businessman Cllr Alex Jones, chairman of Offa Community Council which covers part of the town centre, said with the town’s CCTV headquarters in Wrexham it was surprising it took so long .

Cllr Jones said thousands of pounds worth of damage was done to businesses including triple thick glass and vandal proof windows.

PCSO Nick Perry, who was at the meeting, said it was the CCTV which traced and tracked the man.

Councillors also said they were surprised that the item was not included in the monthly police report which was presented to the members.

Paul James Faulks, 34, who had been staying at the Ty Nos night shelter in Wrexham, has appeared at North East Wales Magistrates Court at Mold where he pleaded guilty to 14 charges of criminal damage which all occurred in the early morning of Friday, March 1, in Queen Street, Duke Street and Hope Street.

The Mold court heard how he kicked windows at The Talbot pub, Gerrards Bakery, The Queen's Square Salon, Just Cuts, Superdrug, Bon Marche, The Santander Bank, That's Entertainment, Beresford Adams, Vision Express, The Enterprise Hub, Hayes Travel and The Chinese Buffet.

Faulks also admitted breaching his criminal behaviour order.

He was remanded in custody pending a sentencing hearing on March 15.